These 3 people just tore apart the Democratic Party

[Quixote1818]

By I. Kahan

Nevada Democratic Party Chairwoman Roberta Lange, journalist Jon Ralston, and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.


By unfairly maligning Sanders supporters, they broke open a permanent rift

This past week, I watched the Democratic party crumble before my eyes. It was a sad scene, since for a long time, I wanted nothing more than to keep Republicans out of power. At the start of the 2016 campaign, I was glad that we had two good candidates who argued the issues. Unfortunately, my faith in the system slowly eroded over the following months. The straw that broke the camel’s back happened this past week, when three individuals ran roughshod over Sanders supporters to the cheers of the national media. Their actions exposed a broken system, and laid bare the dirtiest elements of the Democratic party. The center of this ugliness? The Nevada Democratic caucus, run by chairwoman Roberta Lange.

The Nevada Convention

In February, Secretary Clinton won the Nevada caucus by 5 points. At the county conventions in April, more Sanders delegates showed up. This meant that Sanders would send more delegates to the state convention, which would apportion 12 national delegates between the candidates.

The Nevada Democratic party claims that Clinton had 33 more delegates show up to the national convention. They disqualified 64 of Sanders’ delegates, because the Clinton campaign claimed that they weren’t registered in time. They eventually seated six of them. The party reported that only eight of the 58 remaining delegates showed up to the convention.

However, a number of sources undermine the credibility of the party’s claims. Leslie Sexton, Co-Chair of the Convention Credentials Committee, claimed in a minority report that the delegates were not given a chance to appeal the decision. Even more interesting is the words of Clinton delegate, Pat Barrett. She confirmed that rejected Sanders delegates were properly registered. She said that the party gave delegates misinformation, and told them to go to the wrong places. She denounced the whole process, calling it unfair and wrong.

Roberta Lange

Sanders will lose the election, and the two Nevada delegates won’t make a difference. Of course, the whole caucus system is undemocratic. However, those national delegates represent thousands of people, and these irregularities undermine trust in the system. More important, though, is the completely inept and offensive treatment of Sanders delegates by Roberta Lange.

Much more: https://medium.com/@ykahan9/these-3-people-just-tore-apart-the-democratic-party-dacff6b38cee?_utm_source=1-2-2#.v71s9aiz8

[silvershadow]

1. History will mark the Nevada Convention as the turning point, that is for certain. nt

[reformist2]

16. It was the eye-opener for many. Mainly because of the raw video, which will get your post hidden btw

[vintx]

57. This one? The one where she blatantly ignores the will of the people?

[reformist2]

59. Yep. I posted that, along with a message that we should never forget it. And it was hidden.

They actually called it "pro-Trump" propaganda!

[vintx]

60. Exposing democratic corruption now brands you as "the enemy" - this party seems determined to

follow the path set by the right.

These people are in for a rude awakening if they expect dems to forget these moments.

[msongs]

2. not really, just a minor event in a massive election. nice hyperbole tho nt

[Scootaloo]

3. I actually agree

They're small fissures in a much bigger rip in the party fabric.

[NorthCarolina]

62. Like a

million little cracks in the glass bubble.

[Samantha]

5. Sorry to disagree with you but this is leaving a lasting stench

and it will be permeating the air for a long, long time ... perhaps forever.

Sam

[Enthusiast]

18. Forever.

[Bluenorthwest]

48. In 2008 Obama and his supporters were accused of intimidating the poor casino workers

and edging close to violence, same thing as Bernie supporters were accused of this time. Such accusations are at this point a constant to the Nevada Caucus, they have only held two in history. Both won by Clinton while she accuses her rival of hooliganism.

They need to change either the script or the location or the leading cast member or it just looks like a rerun.

[barrow-wight]

4. Is that the person whose family was threatened?

Just making sure.

[oasis]

11. I thought Tantrumgate was a subject to be avoided by Bernie

supporters like the plague. They just can't help themselves.

[barrow-wight]

13. huh?

I'm no supporter of Mr. Sanders.

[Ned_Devine]

28. Really? And you just signed up three days ago? Shocker!!

[barrow-wight]

45. What does that even mean?

There are millions of people with political opinions who have never even seen this website.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. #ResignDebbie

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Quixote1818.

[vintx]

8. K&R

[Maru Kitteh]

9. Sanders, Sanders and Weaver. Yes they did.

[Scootaloo]

10. Oh! Nice try, but you didn't win!

[Ned_Devine]

29. Scootaloo, you are always awesome! Thank you

What kind of animal is that next to the word "zonk!"?

[Scootaloo]

55. That's a llama

[Ned_Devine]

56. It's beautiful

[Scootaloo]

58. ...

[Waiting For Everyman]

12. I think Little Barbie Boxer deserves some credit.

The Democratic Party handled this shamefully, and it will be remembered.

[pacalo]

23. Yes, indeed.

Why did she involve herself in Nevada's state convention in the first place? I wonder if she went there knowing beforehand what mischief lay ahead & she thought it might be fun -- after all, this election doesn't mean as much to her as an insider with influence as it does to those state volunteers she denigrated because she could. She acted like a bully.

I miss having her as one of my favorite senators. I used to have a lot of respect & admiration for her. And, as you said, it will be remembered.

[oldandhappy]

32. suspect she was invited as a star

Neighboring state, not running this year -- sort of an easy trip for her and a well known name in the party.

[snowy owl]

14. Some primaries are investigated (NY) and others are not. We'll move on. That's all.

That is the history. Even in general elections, corruption is left hanging From Ohio to Florida in 2000. NY to Arizona to Nevada in 2016. Our elections are always compromised. The Nevada convention will be left behind as usual. And Bill 's conduct at polling places in Massachusetts clearly against the law totally overlooked and dismissed. Nobody has the power or the law behind them to truly enforce laws when it is against the political elite. We need a shorter campaign season, finance reform, and more debates that include all candidates from all parties. And we need primaries on the same day nationally to prevent the over-influence of some states to the meaningless primaries at the end. We need all open primaries. Everyone should have a say.

Nevada. I think corrupt from the point of the caucus with Reid's demand to union bosses to get their people out. I imagine those people felt obligated to go out for Clinton - caucuses are very visible and coercion whether real or imagined can be manifest. Not sure I'd want to be seen advocating for a candidate that didn't sit well with my Senator and union boss. It's all smoke and mirrors. But nothing will change.

[2banon]

37. spot on snowy owl

i might add, the days of fraudulent electioneering goes back to the origins of our country, if it's any consolation. Tammany Hall repeats itself over and over and over again throughout the centuries.

[Demsrule86]

15. You left out the part

where sanders supporters sent letters with wrong time in april. Pulled a Cruz.

[Demsrule86]

61. That is untrue

The letters were sent...and you want me to believe that a Hillary supporter sent them? I don't care ...he lost the state and pulled a sleazy Cruz move in April...I don't even understand what good three delegates will do him.

[Demsrule86]

64. don't ...really

You know a Bernie supporter sent it...and he lost Nevada. so cry me a river. He was a attempting to overthrow the will of the voters...minority voters especially.

[Enthusiast]

17. K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations.

[Barack_America]

19. It's really too bad. And it can't be repaired.

And the party was sacrificed for corporatism.

[Babel_17]

20. Try this link

https://tinyurl.com/h5khwmz

I used https://tinyurl.com/ to make a new link from the one in the OP.

[YouDig]

21. Bernie, Bernie, and Bernie.

[Doctor_J]

22. The party elders are psychotic, Machiavellian bullies who belong in the other party

They are far right wing conservatives who have far more in common with the republicans than with the 20th century democrats who made that the American Century. And Mrs Clinton's hubris is astonishing.

[2banon]

44. socio-pathic is apt I think. definitely machiavellian

There will come a time, when they will rue the day.

[LiberalFighter]

24. Barrett was not on the Credentials committee so she wouldn't have first hand knowledge

[passiveporcupine]

25. Oh for fuck's sake

Leslie Sexton, Co-Chair of the Convention Credentials Committee, claimed in a minority report that the delegates were not given a chance to appeal the decision.

Leslie was on the credentials committee.

Clinton delegate, Pat Barrett. She confirmed that rejected Sanders delegates were properly registered. She said that the party gave delegates misinformation, and told them to go to the wrong places. She denounced the whole process, calling it unfair and wrong.

Pat is a Clinton delegate. Why would she say this if she didn't think she had good information?


According to reports, there were other Clinton supporters who left the convention angry at the way it was handled and thought it was unfair to Sanders.

What would it take to convince you?

Listen, I understand why you guys cannot/will not accept what happened. But it did, and if you ever want to pull your head out of the sand and face life honestly, I hope you do it before it's too late. Like before this party falls apart because of the hatred and lies and smear jobs.

[Beartracks]

27. Apaprently, SOME HRC supportes/delegates feel that winning FAIRLY is important.

As opposed to just "winning" or "winning at all costs."

Nice to know, even if it'll all get brushed under the rug.

=======================

[bjo59]

42. Yes, like the Clinton supporter who ripped up his ballot and left before the convention was over.

[joshcryer]

26. A restaurant worker, a local paper journalist, and a failed chairwoman?

They're capable of splitting the democratic party?

[senseandsensibility]

31. Disusting peon lowlives....

gotcha.

[joshcryer]

33. They're inconsequential.

And DWS is not going to be chair for long (yes she may get a cabinet position but I know Clinton wouldn't put her somewhere consequential; if she can't run the DNC properly how can she run a cabinet of the President? I can't even think of one suitable for her incompetence).

A restaurant worker? Really? Capable of such fraud? A journalist? Getting a couple of details wrong about an event that was immaterial to the election?

C'mon, now.

[Hiraeth]

35. inconsequential human beings. I have a book recommendation for you about one inconsequential

human being:

Lone Assassin: The Epic True Story of the Man Who Almost Killed Hitler Hardcover – June 5, 2012
Living as a carpenter who had spent time working in a watch factory, Georg Elser was just an ordinary member of society living in Munich. That is, however, until he took it upon himself to attempt to assassinate the Führer, Adolph Hitler. Being a common man who opposed the Nazi regime, Elser took the skills from his craft and worked to assemble his own bomb detonator. Every night, he snuck out to the Munich Beer Hall, where he worked on assembling the bomb that he planned to use to kill Hitler.
Hidden in a hollowed-out space near the speaker’s podium, Elser’s bomb went off successfully, killing eight people. Hitler was not one of them.

This is the story, scene by scene, of the events that led up to Georg Elser taking justice into his own hands, his attempt to murder the Führer, and what happened after the bomb went off. The Lone Assassin is a powerfully gripping tale that places the reader in the dark days of Munich in 1939, following Elser from the Munich Beer Hall, across the border, and sadly, to the concentration camp where his heroic life ended.

http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Assassin-Almost-Killed-Hitler/dp/1616083832

[joshcryer]

36. That's my favorite of the assassin stories.

Though the one with the officer and the briefcase came closer (it blew up with Hitler in the room but somehow he escaped injury).

[Hiraeth]

38. that was made into a movie, right? with Tom Cruise?

[joshcryer]

39. Ooh, yeah, Valkyrie, never saw it.

The July 20 plot.

[Hiraeth]

40. yep. good flick. is there a good book about it?

[Thinkingabout]

30. Sandrs will lose by more than 12 delegates. What happened to the Sanders delegates which did not

show up?

[bjo59]

43. They showed up and you know it.

[Thinkingabout]

47. They did not all show up and you know this.

[The_Casual_Observer]

34. In your dreams

[MFM008]

46. No rift has to be permanent

especially when you think of what Trump will do.
1000x worse than anything any democrat could do.

[RBInMaine]

49. Oh BULLSHIT.

[Nonhlanhla]

50. Bernie and his negative campaigning is tearing the Democratic Party apart

For months now he's been leading a smear campaign that has damaged Hillary Clinton more than Trump ever will be able to. After all, the bad things said by one's enemies do not have as much traction as the bad things said by one's supposed friends.

Moreover, Bernie is running against the Democratic Party more than he is running against the GOP. The suing of the Dem Party when HIS CAMPAIGN does something wrong; the whispers about vote rigging, the insistence on ideological purity with no thought given to the fact that political parties in the US are coalitions that represent a broad array of interests, is threatening to tear the party apart, are all damaging the Democratic Party.

The very fact that Bernie's supporters now believe only in him and in one one else is a sign of cultish behavior. Think of all the progressives that have been thrown under the bus: Rachel Maddow, Barbara Boxer, Paul Krugman, John Lewis, Dolores Huerta, Howard Dean, and even on occasion Elizabeth Warren, among many many others. If you need to label so many progressive stalwarths as corporate sellouts, then maybe you'd start to think that the problem lies with Bernie, and not with all these other people. But no, if you're a true believer, then it cannot be. So the entire Democratic Party is now seen as corrupt by some of Bernie's followers. Because Bernie, and Bernie alone, is right and righteous.

What a bizarre spectacle.

[Fawke Em]

66. Pointing out her actual record is not a smear campaign. eom

[Nonhlanhla]

67. A lot of his campaign

was all about making innuendos and distorting facts about Hillary. This is not the same as "pointing out her actual record."

[Depaysement]

51. We'll see

There's much more to come.

The elders talk about the Carter-Kennedy rift in the 1980s and then the reign of Ronnie the Righteous. Democrats seemed to survive that.

[CrowCityDem]

52. Bernie is the most responsible for it.

He's the first 'Democrat' I can ever remember whose entire campaign has been centered on calling his own party a bunch of corrupt criminals. That has done far more damage than a story of procedural squabbling.

Gee, maybe the party wouldn't be fractured if one of the two candidates fro President wasn't saying the whole process isn't legitimate.

[randome]

53. "Political operatives sense my power."

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Tarc]

54. Most Sanders voters aren't bitter DU'ers

Last edited Sun May 22, 2016, 10:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Y'all need to build a bridge and get over yourselves, as most will vote for Hillary in the fall.